I finally decided that it was time to jump on the “tiny video camcorder” bandwagon… so I bought a Flip Ultra HD for my wife’s birthday.  The wisdom of buying tech-toys that I want and disguising them as presents for other people is a great topic for our forums… but I want to talk about the camera!

The Flip Ultra HD is the easiest camera I’ve ever used.  Power it on, press the big red “record” button, and you are making movies.  In HD.  OK, so it’s 720p HD… but it is still better than the old VHS machines I grew up around!  Movies are saved in the MP4 format and are amazingly simple to edit and upload to your favorite social networking site.

The Flip Ultra HD has a built-in USB plug, allowing you to simply plug into your laptop or desktop.  The video editing software is onboard the Flip, so the first time you plug in you have the option of installing the FlipShare software.  I found the FlipShare software very easy to use, and Sci-Wife managed to figure it out on her own, too.  (OK, that sounds mean… she’s just not super-techy, so I’m actually proud of her figuring it out on her own.)

This is a “no frills” device, so don’t buy it expecting to use it for recording sporting events or low-light concerts.  It’s great for casual around-the-house or backyard movies.  The portability is great– fits into a coat pocket or cargo pocket on your pants.

The Ultra HD has a two hour video capacity, so you should be able to make plenty of fun short films before you need to download.  You can recharge the device via the USB connection, or with an included charging cable.  The Ultra HD also has the option of simply using AA batteries instead of the rechargable pack. 

The Ultra HD has a mini-HDMI output, so with the right cable you can connect directly to your HD display and check out your work.  As an entry-level camera, I can’t do anything except give it a great recommendation.  If you are an aspiring cinematographer, you probably want something with a better zoom and focusing– the Ultra HD has a 2x zoom, and a fixed focus lens.

Want to see the full specs?  Check them out here.  Want to see a sample?  Here you go…

Falcon Tester from Sci-Guy Mike on Vimeo.

By Sci-Guy-Mike